on fri, president obama said he still hoped to work out a deal to keep taxes for 98% of americans from going up on the first of january. but both sides aren't talking and congress is in recess until after christmas. republicans aren't holding out any hope for a deal. >> i would hope that we would have one last attempt here to do what everyone knows needs to be done, which is a larger plan that really does stabilize the debt and get us moving in the right direction. >> if we get down to the end of this year and the oil only choice we have is to save taxes going up on the middle class, then i would support that. but i wish we had a comprehensive bill that dealt with spending and entitlement altogether. >> i believe the president senses a victory at the bottom of the cliff. >> some finger pointing. other republicans are now looking past new year's day to the next battleground. >> i will raise the debt ceiling only if we save medicare and social security and prevent this country from becoming greece. no more borrowing without addressing why we're in debt to begin with. that's where the rea